Unprecedented ‘Grand Committee’ to set out blueprint for regulation of social media – Naughton

22nd November 2018- Hildegarde Naughton TD

Fine Gael TD Hildegarde Naughton will travel to Westminster next Tuesday (November 27th) for a meeting of the International Grand Committee on Communications.

Legislators from Brazil, Latvia and Singapore will join officials from Britain, Canada, Australia, Ireland and Argentina in conducting the unprecedented hearing next week.

The participating countries have agreed to collectively sign a document at the hearing entitled “International Principles for the law governing the internet”.

As Chair of the Oireachtas Communications Committee, Deputy Naughton will sign the document on behalf of the Irish committee.

Deputy Naughton said: “This document builds upon the work done by the Oireachtas Communications Committee.

“It has become crystal clear to us over the course of our work that social media must be regulated.

“Fine Gael is now leading the way on this issue domestically and it is now party policy following a motion set down by Senator Tim Lombard at our Árd Fheis last weekend. The Taoiseach reiterated this point yesterday in the Dáil and his endorsement of our work is very welcome.

“This unprecedented international committee demonstrates that these are issues of concern right across the globe. The countries on the international committee represent nearly 400 million people.

“Social media companies cannot hide from the genuine concerns of national parliaments from around the globe, it is imperative they engage with us in a meaningful way.

“This document sets out a blueprint for how that can be done.

“I was very disappointed at the refusal of Facebook’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg to appear before the committee.

“I hope that social media companies will see this unprecedented committee representing eight countries from four continents as an opportunity to hear the pressing concerns that need to be addressed immediately.

“The existence of this committee sends out a clear message – we will no longer be ignored,” the Fine Gael TD said.